“This is a very exciting time for us, and all of Colorado,” said Alan Henceroth, Arapahoe Basin Vice President and COO. “We’ve had tremendous early season snowmaking and natural snow, and we can’t wait to kick off the 2013-14 ski and ride season.”

The Black Mountain Express lift will start at 8:30 a.m. It will run to the top of the intermediate High Noon trail at mid-mountain.

A-Basin is the first ski resort to announce an opening date. Loveland Ski Area, which usually engages in a friendly race with A-Basin to be the first ski resort to open, has been making snow, but has not yet announced an opening day.